Improvement in wood-splitting machines



about f/tiua 2f EDWARD COOG'AN, 0E WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOSEPH L.

SIMONS, OF GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

Letters Patent No. 198,883, dated November 1, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN WOOD-SPhlTTING MACHINES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the samen.

To all whom tt may concern Be itlmcwn that I, EDWARD GooGAN, of Washington, m the District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in lVood-Splitting Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a'full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being tion of the cam thereto. v

Figure 2 is a central section of a portion of the frame-work and of the helve, in connection with which are shown the adjustable block,vthe adjustable stop, which limits the distance 'the ax mayy fall, and the construction of the cam which raises the helve.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on line x x of iig. 1, showing the dovetailed form-of the splitting-block.

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to that class of machines which is used for splitting'wood; and

It consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of its parts, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

A in the drawing refers to posts which constitute a portion ofthe frame-work of the machine. They are to be made of strong timbers, say, twelve inchessquare, or of such size, as to give permanency to the machine. The lower ends of these posts are to be bedded rml y in the earth, their length being such as to give the propel'` height to the block upon which the wood is split. n

B B refer to the side pieces ofthe frame-timbers, which extend from one post to the other, and rest upon shoulders formed upon the upper ends of such posts, to which they are bolted.

G refers to a standard which rises from the side timbers of the frame at or near their rear ends. The upper end of .this standard is bifurcated so as to re'- ceive the outer end of the helve, which' is pivoted thereto. v

D refers to the helve, which Ymay be made of wood or of any other suitable material, its rear end being pivoted to the standard C, as above described, from which point it extends forward to br Vnearly to the front end of the frame. v

D refers to a slotted standard, the forks ot' which embrace the standard near its forward end, serving as a guide and support for'the same. This standard is mounted upon the frame near the block upon which the wood is split, and rests upon the horizontal timber, in part above the post A, so that, should the under side of the helve come iu contact with the bridge ofthe standard before the force of the blow is expended, the blow will be taken up by said post.

E E refer to yokes or hangers, one of which is attached upon each side ofthe helve 1), at a point midway between its fulcrum and the ax, or thereabout.

The hangers are of horse-shoe form with the curved ends down, in which suitable bearings are formed for the supportof the journals of the anti-friction roller The legs of the hangers are slotted, as shown, to allow of vertical adjustment upon the helve.

The vhelve is operated by means of a double-winged cam, F, which is mounted upon a transverse shaft, F.

The latter is arranged in bearings upon the side timbers of the frame, and provided with a crank or pulley, K, to which thc power is applied in revolving the shaft, in doing which each wing ot' the cam will alternately come in contact with the anti-friction roller 1j', turning the helve on its fnlorum.

The helve is made of suicient length and weight that the ax G will be caused bythe desceiuling'strokc to enter and split the block ot' wood placed under it. The length of stroke of the helv canbe regulated according to the nature of the work by adjusting the anti-friction roller E' vertically by means ot' its slotted hangers.

The ax G I prefer to make'of cast-iron, with an elongated broad flange, G', at its butt end, by means of which it is firmly secured to the under edge of the outer end ofthe helve in any approved manner.

II refers to the block upon which the wood is placed to be split by the ax. It is construdted with downwardlyprojecting flanges upon three sides, which are to tit over the top ofthe forward end of the frame so that its rear edge com cs in contaot,`or nearly so, with the face of the standard D'. This flan ged block islmade slightly tapering from its front to its rear edge, and the top of the frame is tapered correspondingly, so that the block to remove it must be lifted vertically, and isA prevented v to move horizontally.

By inserting pieces of boards under it, the block maybe adjusted vertically.

I Irefcr to slotted plates of met-al attached to the standard D', one upon cach side, near where the fork terminates.

They are of suiiicient width'to extend acrossl the slot in thestandard, and are intended as keepers to hold in place elastic cushions I', placed in the slot upon the bridge of the standard to relieve the concussion ofthe helve in falling upon it.

The platesA are madeadjust-able, to adapt them to hold in place varying thicknesses of cushionswithout projecting above the same. l

K refers to a. pulley hung upon the end-of the shztft F which may carry an endless belt to be run horiz ntally along the side ofthe block H just a. little below the level of the lzttter. By'this arrangement the split Wood may be carried away and delivered at any convenient point.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure 4by Letters Patent, is l 1. The adjustable block H, constructed with flanges gud tapering from front to rear, substantially as set drth.

2. The combination of the adjustable block H, conwitnesses.

EDWARD COOGLAN.

Witnesses D. P. HoLLoWAY, B. EDW. J. EILs. 

